Friction-operated package coding devices



Oct. 27, 1959 A. J. FARKAS 2,909,991;-

FRICTION-OPERATED PACKAGE comma DEVICES Filed Sept. 19, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l ALFRED EAR/ms Oct. 27, 1959 A. J. FARKAS 2,909,991

FRICTION-OPERATED PACKAGE comma DEVICES Filed Sept. 19, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 rill a z hlw I/011mm IN V EN TOR. ALFRED (A FAR/ AS HIS ATTOR/VE I Oct. 27, 1959 A. J. FARKAS 2,909,991

FRICTION-OPERATED PACKAGE CODING DEVICES Filed Sept. 19, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mum IN V EN TOR.

BY lgwzw 11119 A TToR/VEY- ALFRED 1/ F/IRKAS United States Patent FRICTION-OPERATED PACKAGE CODING DEVICES Alfred J. Farkas, Chicago, 11].

Application September 19, 1955, Serial No. 535,166

2 Claims. (Cl. 101-35) This invention relates to new, simplified and useful improvements in friction-operated package coding devices and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efiicient in use and economical in manufacture.

An object of this invention is to provide in a coding device for printing upon packages or the like while the latter are in transit along a predetermined plane, an improved construction for supporting printing units upon a disc in close proximity to a traction wheel in a manner such that the printing units are readily accessible for changing the printing characters or making repairs or replacements or for cleaning purposes.

Another and equally important object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character hereinafter described a circular disc or plate which performs the function of supporting radially disposed printing or stamping units adjacent a traction wheel and at the same time pro- 'vides circumferentially extending fingers providing a foundation or base for the ribbon-like belts of the printing units to retain the belts of each of the units in extended position with the characters thereof presented to an inking roller and to a package moving relative thereto.

A still further and equally important object of the'invention is to provide a coding device which is simple in construction, compact, and comprises the minimum number of parts.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the coding device embodying my invention, showing the same in relation to packages to be operated on by the device;

' Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same with the cover of the device in open position; I

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the printing unit supporting disc;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the inking roller embodied in the invention.

The several objects of my invention are accomplished by the preferred form of construction shown in the accompanying drawings. In this connection, my improved coding device is mounted with respect to a platform or runway 10 over which packages 11 are moved by means of mechanism not disclosed and constituting no part of the present invention.

To the platform 10 at a predetermined point there is connected a block 12 by means of a bolt 13. This block 12 extends laterally from the edge portion of the platform 10 and has a bifurcated end portion 14 to facilitate clamping to the block a rod 15 projected through an opening 16 formed in the block 12. The upper end portion of the rod 15 has, in a like manner, clamped thereto a block 17. This block 17 is clampingly secured as at 18 to a horizontally extending rod 19. The rod 19 supports the coding device embodying my invention.

This coding device comprises a pair of similarly formed side plates 20 supported by the rod 19 for movement with respect thereto. The plates 20 are spaced from each other by spacing bolts 21 which serve to secure the side plates 20 in spaced relation with respect to each other.

Corresponding corner portions 22 of the side plates 20 have formed therein open slots 23. Mounted in these slots 23 are the end portions of a shaft 24 secured by nuts 23' to the plates 24 which form extensions of the side plates 20.

The shaft 24 has mounted thereon between the side plates 20 a sleeve 25. Threaded on the sleeve 25 are spaced nuts 25 between which is mounted an inking wheel 26 comprising a holder for an inking pad 27. This holder comprises a core or hub 28 disposed between the side plates 29 and of a diameter less than the outside diameter of the plates 29 to provide peripheral flanges 30 between which the inking pad 27 is mounted upon the core 28. The inking pad 27 may be formed of any suitable material, such as foam rubber, latex, or the like.

Opposite corresponding portions of the side plates 20,

as indicated at 31, are provided with open slots 32. Projecting into these slots 32 are the end portions 33 of a shaft 34. The shaft 34 has threaded on the end portions 33 thereof lock nuts 35 which securely connect the shaft 34 to the side plates 20.

Mounted on the shaft 34 for rotation with respect thereto is a sleeve 36. Mounted on this sleeve 36 for rotation therewith between clamping nuts 37 is a traction wheel 38, the peripheral edge of which is knurled transversely and diagonally to assure tractional engagement between the wheel 38 and the packages 11 which it engages, where by the movement of the packages 11 will transmit rotation to the traction wheel 38.

Mounted on the sleeve 26 between the clamping nuts 39 and in facial relation with respect to the traction wheel 38, is a circular disc 40. This disc 40 is of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the traction wheel for reasons which will be hereinafter made apparent. The disc is provided with .circumferentially located cut-outs 41 which provide mounting openings for printing or stamping units 42. These openings are. approximately apart and define circumferentially extending fingers 43. Each of these units includes a shaft 44 on which are mounted in adjacent relation with respect to each other, friction wheels 45 over which extend endless flexible belts 46 of ribbon-like form. The belts 46 have formed thereon printing characters 47. Corresponding runs 46 of the belts 46 extend through the cut-outs 41 for passage over the fingers 43, which fingers serve to support the belts in extended position with their printing characters flatly presented to the inking pad 27 and to the top surface of the package 11. 3

The shaft 44 of each printing unit 43 projects through side plates 48 which serve to maintain the friction wheels 45 of the printing unit in assembled relation during mounting of the same on the disc 40 and during removal of the unit therefrom. The opposite ends of the shaft 44 of each printing unit are journalled in brackets 49 fremovably secured to the disc 40 by means of threaded bolts 50.

When each printing unit 43 is mounted in its respective position upon the disc 40 with the belts 46 extending over the fingers 43, the characters 47 of such belts will extend slightly beyond the peripheral edge of the traction wheel 38 so as to have full and unobstructed engagement with the inking pad 27 and with the surface of the package 11 to be printed upon. 7

In order to yieldably hold the traction wheel in engagement with the packages 11, I provide on one of the spacing bolts 21 a fixed arm 51. To the outer end portion of this arm 51 is secured an end portion of a tension spring 52. The opposite end portion of the spring 52 is secured to an arm 53 carried by the rod 19 (Fig. This arm 53 bears against the adjacent spacer bolt 21. The spring 52 will bear the arm 53 against the adjacent spacer bolt 21 and when under tension will yieldably urge the traction wheel 38 against the adjacent surface of the packages 11.

In order that the printing units 43 will be properly indexed for printing upon the packages 11, I provide an indexing device which preferably comprises spaced plates 54 (Fig. 4), secured to the sleeve 36 by one of the nuts 37 and a nut 56. Extending between these plates 54 are pins 57 having mounted thereon roller bearing sleeves 58.

These roller bearing sleeves 58 are adapted to be successively engaged by the angled end portion 59 of a rod 60 extending through a sleeve 61 supported by a plate 62 in turn secured to the adjacent side plate 20. Between the sleeve 61 and a nut 63 carried by the rod 60 is an expansion spring 64 which urges the end portion 59 of the rod 60 against the roller bearing sleeve 58. On the end 65 of the rod 60 is a stop nut 66.

The location of the pins 57 is such that when the roller bearing sleeves 58 carried thereby are successively engaged by the end portion 59 of the rod 60, the disc 40 will always be disposed in a position with a printing unit 43 in engagement with the adjacent top surface of the package 11. The rod 60 cooperates with the roller bearing sleeves 58 to prevent overriding of the traction wheel 38.

To complete the invention there may be provided a cover for the inking wheel. Such cover is indicated at 67. One end portion 68 of the cover is hinged as at 69 between the side plates 20. The free end of the cover 67 is provided with opposite latch fingers 70 which are adapted to engage in keeper slots 71 formed in the plates 24'.

The cover 67 may be omitted without in any way affecting the efficiency of operation of the device. Its purpose is to protect the inking wheel from dust and other foreign matter.

As viewed particularly in Figs. 2 and 6, it will be apparent that each printing or stamping unit is easily accessible to permit rearrangement of the character-bearing belts as well as to permit separate and independent removal of each unit for replacement, repair or cleaning purposes.

While I have shown but one traction Wheel, it is apparent that there may be mounted on the sleeve 36 on the opposite side of the disc 40 a traction wheel having the same structure and function as the wheel 38.

As the packages are moved by their moving mechanism along the platform 10, the frictional engagement between the traction Wheel 38 and the packages will impart rotation to the disc 40, bringing the printing or stamping units successively into printing engagement with the adjacent surfaces of the packages. As the printing characters of the printing units by means of the spring 52 are yieldably urged into engagement with the packages, it will be seen that a clear and positive printing operation will be performed.

The inking wheel 26 has its peripheral edge spaced from the peripheral edge of the disc 40 a distance such as permits only the characters of the printing units to come into contact therewith. Each time the characters 4 engage the pad 27 of the inking wheel,-the latter will be intermittently rotated so that the same area of the pad 27 is not continuously engaged by the printing characters of the belts 46 of the printing units 43.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for printing upon packages or the like while the latter are in transit along a predetermined plane, the combination with a single traction wheel engageable with and rotatable by the movement of the packages, of a plurality of printing units each comprising a plurality of endless ribbonlike belts having on one side thereof printing characters adapted to have printing engagement with said packages, means for supporting said traction wheel in operative position with respect to said packages, a circular member carried by said supporting means in facial spaced apart parallel relation with respect to said traction wheel for rotation by and with said traction wheel, means for supporting said units on said circular member for successive engagement with said moving packages, said member having cut-outs providing spaced apart arcuate fingers defining the peripheral edge thereof and extending in a circumferential direction with respect thereto, the belts of said units movably extending over said fingers in a transverse direction with respect to said traction wheel whereby the printing characters are supported by said fingers in a plane for printing engagement with said packages.

2. A device for printing upon packages or the like while the latter are in transit along a predetermined plane, comprising a traction wheel engageable with the packages, means for supporting said wheel in bearing engagement with the packages whereby rotation will be imparted to the wheel by the movement of the packages, a plurality of printing units each comprising a plurality of endless ribbonlike belts each having on one side thereof printing characters adapted to have printing engagement with said packages, a circular member carried by said supporting means in facial relation to said traction wheel for rotation by and with said traction wheel, means for supporting said units on said circular member for successive engagement with said moving packages, said member providing spaced apart arcuate fingers defining the peripheral edge thereof and extending in a circumferential direction with respect thereto and spaced approximately apart, the belts of said units movably extending over said fingers in a transverse direction with respect to the Wheel whereby the printing characters are supported by said fingers in a plane for printing engagement with said packages, inking means for said printing characters, said inking means comprising an inking roller intermittently rotated by engagement of said printing characters therewith, and yieldable means urging the printing characters of said belts in printing engagement with the surfaces of said packages.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 587,253 Adler July 27, 1897 809,018 Scott Jan. 2, 1906 2,562,627 McKay July 31, 1951 2,634,676 McKay Apr. 14, 1953 2,691,936 Farkas et a1. Oct. 19, 1954 2,716,379 Pitt Aug. 30, 1955 

